The New Orleans Saints had a practice schedule this week very similar to last week, said interim coach Aaron Kromer. The team practiced without pads for the second consecutive week to keep everyone fresh for the San Diego Chargers, something it also did before facing the Green Bay Packers.

New Orleans Saints coach Aaron Kromer had a practice schedule this week very similar to last week.Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune

"It was very intense, but ... we didn't use pads and that kept us fresh for the game," Kromer said. "We executed our technique and our plays and our assignments but we weren't banging a lot during the week and made up for that during individual technique (work). That kept us fresh, we played harder last week and we did it again this week."

Saints running back Pierre Thomas said he thinks practicing without pads has helped the team bounce back from injuries a little quicker.

"What (Kromer) is trying to do is let us get our bodies back, regroup, start fresh," Thomas said. "That's one thing he really wants, is being fresh before we go out there and play the game against a good team."

With wide receiver Lance Moore ruled out for Sunday night's game with a hamstring injury, Kromer said the other receivers are going to need to step up to replace him.

"We'll change some formations and change some plays that will enable us to use what we have," Kromer said. "It's an every week thing, you lose a guy, you have to adjust and use some other players to fill in for him, even though it's hard to replace him, but we'll do the best we can with that."

Kromer said it's become pretty routine this season to be down at least one receiver.

"Even though we're losing one receiver per game it seems, one guy sits out and another one steps up," Kromer said. "That's happened to us pretty consistently this year. I think they are progressing, like the rest of the team, banged up early, and you can see that they're running better now than they were in games one through four."